AFL TAS

With the 2010 football season under way, I thought I would recap on the happenings at the top-level in Tasmanian footy.

Tasmania AFL bid

Andrew Demetriou talks about the future of the AFL and the outlook past the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney and that future expansion is almost a certainty.

He stated:

You could be talking about Tasmania being entrenched in the competition and another team in Western Australia. I just know that it (the AFL) won’t look like it does today.

This statement was in relation to the AFL circa 2030. Read the article – Further expansion potential ‘limitless’: Demetriou

Hawks in Tasmania

Hawk’s great Robert DiPierdomenico has called on the Hawthorn football club to extend its deal with the Tasmanian government saying it’s a win/win for both the state and club.

He also stated that the AFL is keeping a close eye on how state football was working.  Read the Article – Hawks great wants Tassie deal to continue

The Hawks might have to look out as Essendon’s chief executive officer and managing director and also Tasmanian born Ian Robson has stated that Essendon would welcome an opportunity to play games in Tasmania.  Robson who was with Hawthorn last year and has seen the opportunities in the Tasmanian market.  Read article – Essendon sees state as lucrative football market

The Wizz and Wacko Jacko

A  faction from the Kermandie football club recruited ex-AFL players Mark “Wacko Jacko” Jackson and Warwick Capper in effort to save the club from the wilderness and make sure the clubs 127 year history continues.

Even with the two high-profile signing the club was still not able to draw enough players to training to field two team in the upcoming 2010 season.  Martin Flanagan wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald

TSL Board -V- Clubs

The 10 Tasmanian Statewide Clubs were not represented on the AFL Tasmania board, so to get some representation at the top-level, they have empowered ex Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon to represent them at the board level.

This came about by the board wanting to scrap the reserves competition from the state-wide format and have the clubs run that competition themselves.  Having no representation at the top-level meant that decisions were being made without input from the clubs, who were being effected directly.

In conclusion a lot has happened in the months leading up to this years season, probably more so than any other year.  Stepping stone, pathways and clubs need to be preserved in our state.  Players need to develop but it seems if you are not in elite company when you are a 15-17 year old then you might find it hard to find a  way to progress.

Clarence Statewide Premiers

Results from the various finals are:

Saturday 19th September

Wrest Point Tasmanian State League – Bellerive Oval

Seniors
Clarence def Glenorchy
15.11-101 – 14.11-95
Reserves
Launceston def Glenorchy
12.12-84 – 4.13-37
Under 19’s
Lauderdale def Clarence
10.11-71 – 4.3-27

Northern Tasmanian Football Association Div 1 – Aurora Stadium

Seniors
George Town def Rocherlea
16.13-109 – 15.17-107
Reserves
Rocherlea def Longford
10.8-68 – 8.6-54
Under 19’s
Scottsdale -V- Longford
12.12-84 – 11.4-70

Old Scholars Football Association – North Hobart Oval

Seniors
Richmond def St Virgils
15.15-105 – 9.9-63
Reserves
Hutchins def DOSA
13.16-94 – 9.3-57

Sunday 20th September

Southern Football League – North Hobart Oval

Seniors
New Norfolk def Lindisfarne
15.11-101 – 10.9-69
Reserves
New Norfolk def Kingborough
16.22-118 – 2.4-16
Colts
Brighton def New Norfolk
13.9-87 – 6.3-39

Wrest Point Tasmanian State League – Bellerive Oval

Seniors
Clarence -V- Glenorchy
Reserves
Launceston -V- Glenorchy
Under 19’s
Lauderdale -V- Clarence

Northern Tasmanian Football Association Div 1 – Aurora Stadium

Seniors
Rocherlea -V- George Town
Reserves
Longford -V- Rocherlea
Under 19’s
Scottsdale -V- Longford

Old Scholars Football Association – North Hobart Oval

Seniors
St Virgils -V- Richmond
Reserves
Hutchins vs DOSA

Sunday 20th September

Southern Football League – North Hobart Oval

Seniors
Lindisfarne -V- New Norfolk
Reserves
Kingborough -V- New Norfolk
Colts
Brighton -V- New Norfolk

Lindisfarne will play in the Southern Football League Grand Final

This time Boon, playing for his school Hutchins against St Patrick’s College in the Sports Association of Tasmania Independent Schools grand final was involved in a behind the play scuffle which left St Pat’s Beau Thorp (younger brother of Mitch who plays for Hawthorn) on the ground after suffering a blow to the stomach.

Thorp then spent two nights in hospital under observation.

St Pats has lodges a request to the SATIS seeking an investigation on this matter.

This comes after another incident that Boon had with North Hobart player Daniel Newitt.

The question does remain: Would this be a newsworthy report if Jack was not the son of David Boon.

Stae Wide League

State Wide League

A recent article on afl.com.au about how many players Melbourne will delist at the end of the year has Dean Bailey stating that due to the inclusion of the Gold Coast, clubs will need to be scouring the second tier competitions for new talent.

“Recruiting is going to be an area that we’re going to have to get really good at over the next three or four years, because of the early draft picks going.

“Those players playing in the second tier competitions – the SANFL, WAFL, VFL, AFLQ and the different leagues down in Tasmania now – most clubs are going to be scrutinising them to try and find more players to pick from.” Bailey said.

The Gold Coast team will enter the competition with numerous draft concessions and will pilfer all the quality young stock in the country. See all the concessions here.

Maybe we might see a player or two picked from the Statewide League?

Gold Coast Football Club

The new Gold Coast football team has the capacity to sign 12 x 17 year-olds born in the January – April window (January 1 to April 30, 1992), and the first two are both from Burnie on the states north/west coast.

The Burnie Docker duo of Maverick Weller and Luke Russell, both represented Tasmania in the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and now will join the Gold Coast in November as two of the club’s eligible 17-year-olds.

The two will begin playing for the Gold Coast next year in either the VFL or AFL Queensland competitions in preparation for the clubs inaugural year in the AFL in 2011.

Click here for a comprehensive explanation of the Gold Coast Draft Rules/concessions.

In other Gold Coast news: Brisbane and Queensland rugby league star Karmichael Hunt has signed a three-year deal, believed to be worth $1 million, to switch codes and play for the Gold Coast.

“Supporters found the expense to travel way to high.”

In reference to a new revamped statewide league

“I would suggest give up on the state wide league, give up
on the Tassie Devils and bring back the mariners (under 18′) to represent our
state and give them a stepping stone to the AFL……. “

“Promote what good football we have in Southern Tasmania.
We need the media to put bums on seats. Premier and Regional League do not get
enough recognition.”